How to Boost Your Energy in a Season of Change

For the past two weeks, I have provided moral support to my parents in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Our country faces an upcoming election unlike any other. As the light fades in the northern hemisphere, we prepare to shift clocks this weekend, which means the days for longer hikes grow fewer and farther between. And the holidays are just around the corner. How do you cope with mounting stress? What if you could boost your energy by pursuing what you love, getting creative with your adventures, or slowing down? That’s exactly what I tried.

I also looked for inspiring quotes, including this one by Abraham Maslow: “In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” While safety may feel desirable, in this season of change I find myself choosing growth.

Boost Your Energy 1: Have Novel Adventures

Despite everything going on — or, more truthfully, because of it — I spent as much time as I could exploring new trails in new situations. If you haven’t noticed by now, I adore hiking. It feels like I’m a bud opening and thirsting for more. The links are to WTA trip reports if you care to learn more.

• October 22: Lodge and Beaver Lakes solo on the PCT; I cherished the solitude and dusting of snow
• Snoqualmie Tunnel; this was my third and final required “recent” hike with three Mountaineers
• Gold Creek Pond solo; on this 1-mile loop, I wanted to shoot some gorgeous fall colors
• Franklin Falls solo; to see how the Wagon Train Trail repairs are going
• Big Creek Falls, October 26: Taylor River with friends to practice my mentor hike for November 23
• Big Tree Trail and Shangri-La on Cougar Mountain, October 29, with Ajax and a friend
• St. Edward State Park on a rainy Wednesday (October 30), collecting data for an upcoming nutrition talk
• Shelton View Forest on Halloween with Ajax; this gem, 20 minutes from home, was a real treasure

Spooky Snoqualmie Tunnel

Three of these eight adventures stood out to me. On October 22, I linked together four shorter hikes (1-5 miles each) for a 14-mile day. I never realized that short driving breaks could boost your energy and leave you wanting more.

The Iron Horse Tunnel hike with the Mountaineers was perhaps the most memorable. The Tunnel at Exit 54 is 2.3 miles of mostly flat, packed gravel and requires walking by headlamp. When we got a mile in, we could only see a pinprick of light on either end. Someone had set up a few scary dolls in anticipation of Halloween.

We collected trash, talked and laughed, and stopped at each alcove to see what we might find. It’s a unique sensory experience with a great echo that everyone should try once. It also meant I was one step away from being a hike leader.

Big Creek Falls

On a rainy Saturday, two friends and I headed up the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie to scout out the trail to Big Creek Falls. I had just posted a listing for my upcoming mentored hike before leaving. By the time I got home, the hike had already been filled, with people joining the waitlist. It proves how much need there is for off-season hike leaders to step up, a task I plan to take on come December.

I am now fascinated with new-to-me places. Why has it taken me so long to leave all the familiar trails? “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” The mountains have more to teach me about leadership, courage, and adventure. But perhaps a better question is, “What adventures lie ahead in 2025?” I’m ready.

Our Big Creek hike taught me that my jacket is not waterproof; my phone battery was corrupted and no longer held a charge for a 3-hour hike; and I needed both a backup charging system and a dedicated car cord for my phone. Tech has never been my strong suit, but with a big enough WHY I have solved these problems and more.

Shelton View Forest

My third example of restful novelty came as a surprise. Need to boost your energy? Try visiting somewhere you’ve never been before. Shelton View Forest is a gem about 20 minutes north of my house. Ajax and I found a little of everything: 3 old cars. A Little Free Library with books in good repair. Rocks painted green and labeled with plant identification names. A “Telephone of the Wind” poem memorial. An Eagle Scout eagle’s nest.

Roots are painted orange for easier visibility in the fallen leaves. Boxes in a fairy garden offer kids arts and crafts projects. Ten benches beg to be enjoyed. Sense of humor signage (“wet way, other way”) made me giggle. Steep ravine walks burn the quads in an interval workout. And at the bottom of the ravine, solitude and silence await. 

The sensory experience of the flat Tunnel walk, the Big Creek Falls scouting trip, and the delightful gem with Ajax made these three stand out above the others. All were new to me. None was physically demanding. Getting outside to enjoy nature and re-create ourselves can happen in many ways. We don’t always have to set a new PR (personal record), cover more distance, or carry more weight. Sometimes we can just go for the sake of exploring and enjoying ourselves.

Energy 2: Prepare for Something Scary

Another thing I love is helping people. The hike at St. Edward State Park last Wednesday provided a spark of energy. I had arranged ahead of time to join an outdoor exercise class to get comfortable with the participants. At the end of the class, I asked what kinds of questions they had about trekking nutrition. With their input, I am developing a free online class that will air before the end of the year.

The last time I spoke in front of more than 2-3 people at a time was pre-pandemic, so I felt nervous. But that energy helped me prepare suitable questions. When the day arrived, I joined the fun for two hours. It felt quite natural to segue into a 15-minute question-and-answer interaction at the end, listening to their needs. Brief but satisfying, especially since I may have found another niche I can fill.

Each baby step toward growth helps me build confidence in a way that feels authentic. Just challenging enough to energize me, rather than shut me down. Instead of thinking, “There’s no way I can do this,” I now tell myself, “I’ve succeeded at each previous step. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Try making a list of simple things that boost your energy. Then include them regularly.

Boost Your Energy 3: Support Others

The third source of energy in the past few weeks has been finding diverse ways to support others, whether taking people on hikes or incorporating neuroscience into training sessions. And my parents updated our family on a video call to get us all on the same page. I’d been struggling to find a way to support them since my week-long in-person visit got canceled. Imagine my delight when my mother asked if I’d be her self-care accountability partner.

I dove in with 100% energy. I sent care packages. Cards. Texts with movement ideas from a color walk to a “leave a book, take a book” at a local little free library. My mother thanked me for the support. Things felt like they were going great.

Clues to Back Off

But when a day or two lapsed in communication, instinct kicked in and I backed off. The last thing a coach wants to become is a nag. After a traumatic experience like living through a hurricane, a desire to return to normal is very strong. But the reality is my parents have numerous demands on their time. Like getting potable water daily. They may have phone service and electricity, but they’re still surviving. It may be another six weeks before they can think about returning to thriving.

Perhaps the best way to offer support is to let someone know I’m here in whatever capacity they need. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. While it may give me energy to support others, if the people I am trying to help withdraw, could it mean I’m trying too hard? I have let go of a few friendships that are too one-sided, with me putting in all the energy while getting little back. Like seasons, maybe relationships also ebb and flow.

Boost Your Energy 4: Slow Down

When life spirals out of control, sometimes the best thing you can do to boost your energy is to slow down. Rest gives us the strength to face what’s next, whether that’s dealing with family, confronting community challenges, or starting new personal ventures. If I feel overwhelmed and pressed for time, my go-to energy booster is to take off my shoes and sit outside in my yard for a short period of grounding. In the rain, I use an umbrella. If it snows, I use water from my hot tub to melt a patch of snow.

What is your go-to method to slow down and reconnect with yourself? This season, permit yourself to pause. Rest is not a retreat; it’s the way forward. I’d love to hear your re-creating, rejuvenating strategies for the holiday season. Leave them in the comments so we can all learn.